Benjamin Edimesumbe Loader (born 8 November 1998) is an English professional rugby union player who plays as a wing for United Rugby Championship team Stormers.

Ben Loader
Birth nameBenjamin Edimesumbe Loader[1]
Date of birth (1998-11-08) 8 November 1998 (age 25)[2]
Place of birthReading, England[2]
Height1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[2]
Weight92 kg (14 st 7 lb; 203 lb)[2]
Rugby union career
Position(s) Wing
Current team Stormers
Senior career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2017–2023 London Irish 73 (120)
2023–present Stormers 14 (20)
Correct as of 8 April 2024[3]
International career
Years Team Apps (Points)
2016–2017 England U18 6 (5)
2018 England U20 4 (20)
2019 England XV 1 (0)
Correct as of 2 June 2019

Career edit

Loader began playing rugby at local club Reading Abbey.[4] At the age of fifteen he joined the academy of London Irish and on 14 October 2017 made his professional debut in a EPCR Challenge Cup game against Edinburgh.[4][5]

Loader represented England during the 2018 Six Nations Under 20s Championship and scored a try in the last round against Ireland.[6] Later that year Loader was a member of the squad that finished runners up at the 2018 World Rugby Under 20 Championship.[7] On 2 June 2019 he made an appearance for an England XV side in a non-cap friendly against the Barbarians at Twickenham Stadium.[8][9]

In May 2022 Loader came off the bench as London Irish were defeated by Worcester Warriors in the final of the Premiership Rugby Cup.[10] The following year saw Loader depart the club after they encountered financial issues and in June 2023 it was confirmed that he had joined Stormers.[11]

Personal life edit

Born in England, Loader is of Cameroonian descent through his mother.[12] He was educated at Reading School and Wellington College. His younger brother, Danny Namaso, is a professional footballer.[4][13]

References edit

  1. ^ "Benjamin Edimesumbe Loader". ESPN Scrum. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  2. ^ a b c d "Ben Loader". London Irish. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  3. ^ "All Rugby Profile". Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Bennetts, Julian (14 February 2018). "Meet Ben and Danny Loader - Britain's most talented sporting brothers". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 19 November 2020.
  5. ^ Coles, Ben (4 April 2024). "Ben Loader interview: English winger on life in Cape Town after joining Stormers". The Daily Telegraph. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  6. ^ Tracey, Cian (16 March 2018). "England's Under-20s overwhelm Ireland to secure a big win at the Ricoh Arena". Irish Independent. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  7. ^ "England U20: Ben Curry called up for World Rugby U20 Championship". BBC Sport. 21 May 2018. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  8. ^ "Loader on special week for the family". London Irish. 31 May 2019. Retrieved 21 February 2021.
  9. ^ Meagher, Gerard (2 June 2019). "England XV 51-43 Barbarians". The Guardian. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  10. ^ Peddy, Chris (17 May 2022). "London Irish 25-25 Worcester Warriors: Worcester win Premiership Rugby Cup with most tries after extra time". BBC Sport. Retrieved 8 April 2024.
  11. ^ Team, The Rugby Paper (18 June 2023). "Loader signs two-year deal with Stormers". The Rugby Paper. Retrieved 1 September 2023.
  12. ^ Jones, Owain (23 May 2021). "On an upward curve". Rugby Pass. Retrieved 27 September 2022.
  13. ^ "Loader aims to add to family silverware". BBC Sport. 30 May 2018. Retrieved 19 November 2020.